Dodie Smith, president of Metro South District UMW, will be the featured speaker with a topic of "11X15 and UMW." The public is invited to attend.

The 11X15 campaign in Wisconsin to reduce the prison population of 22,000 by one-half by the end of 2015 is significant because the State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections has a $1.3 billion annual budget. Although Wisconsin has the same population, the state imprisons more than twice as many people as Minnesota, and pays more than half a billion dollars more for it every year.

A recent study shows that the state of Wisconsin saves $1.93 with every dollar it spends on community-based alternatives to incarceration.

Many Wisconsin prisoners are non-violent and suffer from mental health and/or addiction issues. Mental illness and substance abuse are public health issues and are not best treated through incarceration.

The 11X15 campaign communicates that there are alternatives to incarceration that are appropriate for many (not all) people who have been sent to prison.

United Methodist Women is the largest denominational faith organization for women with a membership of 800,000. UMW focuses on missions, education and activities that support the needs of women, children and youth. In 2012 UMW of Wisconsin raised more than $311,000 for that focus.

Persons interested in membership in United Methodist Women can contact Jackie Felde at 920-458-5679 or St. Luke United Methodist Church at 920-458-3461. Learn more about 11X15 at prayforjusticeinwi.org.